diff --git a/client/task_runner.go b/client/task_runner.go
index 6f183359c..88f2e2a0b 100644
--- a/client/task_runner.go
+++ b/client/task_runner.go
@@ -247,9 +247,13 @@ func (r *TaskRunner) RestoreState() error {
 	}
 	r.artifactsDownloaded = snap.ArtifactDownloaded
 	r.taskDirBuilt = snap.TaskDirBuilt
-	r.createdResources = snap.CreatedResources
 	r.payloadRendered = snap.PayloadRendered
 
+	// Pre-0.5.3 state snapshots won't have created resources
+	if snap.CreatedResources != nil {
+		r.createdResources = snap.CreatedResources
+	}
+
 	if err := r.setTaskEnv(); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("client: failed to create task environment for task %q in allocation %q: %v",
 			r.task.Name, r.alloc.ID, err)